Boundary Changes Worry Residents

Proposed changes to the boundaries in BC have been released and residents in the South Okanagan are confused at some of the decisions that have been made.

In the new map the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission in BC has decided to draw the line between Summerland and Penticton.

Stewart Ladyman with the Commission says the change was made because of population shifts.

"When we piece together from the Alberta boarder we had to increase the number of people in the Kootenay-Columbia riding. We then had to rejig or change the part of the puzzle that started at about Nelson, all the way up through Keremeos and up to Penticton"

Ladyman notes that these changes are not definite and a public hearing will take place before any major decisions are made.

He adds that the proposed new map is the result of having to add new parliamentary seats.

"It's not an easy matter of adding six seats. The Okanagan Kootenay's did not grow as much to get a new seat, that's part of the issue of why we're re-jigging the boundaries"

A public hearing on the proposed changes will be held on October 9th in Penticton at the Lakeside Resort.